Record-controlled musical instrument



Jan. 4, 1921. 1,613,441

T. F. C-HEEK RECORD CONTROLLED MUSICAL INSTRUMENT Filed Sept. 25, 1923 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 v 6mm,

I gnwntoz T. F. CHEEK Jan. 4 1927.

RECORD CONTROLLED MUSICAL INSTRUMENT Filed Sept. 25, 1923 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 3mm ywra W Jan. 4 1927. T. F. CHEEK RECORD CONTROLLED MUSICAL INSTRUMENT Filed Sept. '25, 1923 s Sheets-Sheet s Patented Jan. 4, 1927.

UNITED STATES TOLBERT F. CHEEK, OF NEW YORK, N. Y., A

OF NEW YORK, N. Y., A CORPORATIGII OF NEW YORK.

RECORD-CONTROLLED MUSECAL INSTRUMENT.

Application filed September 25, 1923.

This invention relates to record controlled musical instruments and particularly to instruments provided with means for control.- lingthe expression of the music from the record.

'lzheprimary object of my invention is the provision of improved means for the control of the air being delivered to the main reservoir of a record controlled musical instrument.

Another object of my invention is the provision of: a unit attached to the reservoir of a record controlled musical instrun'ient and having embodied therein control means for rendering the tonal expression less in volume while still permitting the expression means to function in its normal manner.

Another object of my invention is the pro vision of a means in the main tension line which will flush the main air channel simultaneously with the operation of the valve to cut oft the tension supply, thus preventing the striking of one or two notes, from the tension in the air channel, after the interruption between the main air channel and reservoir has been made.

Another and further object of my invention is the provision of an improved releasing valve for the reservoir bellows, for quietly releasing the tension when the same becomes too great in the reservoir.

Referring tothe drawing. where I have illustrated an embodiment of my invention,

Fig. 1 is a diagrammatic view showing my invention as a part of the mechanism of a reproducing piano,

Fig. 2 is an enlarged cross sectional view of the unit attached to the main reservoir,

Fig. 3 is a cross sectional view taken on the line 3-3 of Fig. 2- but showing, in addition, a diagrammatic representation of the connections from the main cut-oli' valve to the rewind lever controlled valve.

designates the stationary member and 11 the movable member of a reservoir bellows. A flap valve 12 is hinged at 13 to the-movable member 11 and covers a port 1%. A stem 15 is threaded in the valve 12 and carries at its inner end a pad 16. Its outer end is arranged with a suitable means for adjustment as the screw head 17. Resilient means as the leaf springs 18 are provided Serial No. 694,708.

or holding the valve normally in closed position. The seat 19 of the valve is of suitable material such as fine leather.

A particular feature of this valve is a strip of porous sounddeadening material 20' wl -ch extends from one end of the hinge 13 around the movable sides of the-valve to the opposite end of the hinge. The porous material extends to the edge of the valve adjacent the valve seat and preferably contacts therewith. Such a suitable porous material is found in felt.

Suitable springs as the springs 21 hold the reservoir bellows normally in expanded po sit-ion.

Under the influence of exhaust tension through the duct 22, the bellows collapses. msuiiicient air is supplied to expand the bellows, the latter will collapse until the stem 15, by its pad 16, contacts with the wall of the stationary board 10. A further collapse oi the movable member, causes the valve to be opened and air to be admitted through the port let. The air being admitted, contacts with and passes through the felt edging 20 with the result that there is no noise.

The duct 22 is connected to the main source of power shown on Fig. 1. The duct 23 connected to the winding motor (not shown). The duct 2% is connected to the rewind and replay shitting pneumatics. All of these connections are well known in the art and it is not thought necessary to describe them further in this application. It to be noted, however, that these ducts are always connected to the reservoir;

1 will now describe the unit which, in the present embodiment, comprises, in part, a block 29 and is attached to the non-movable member of the reservoir pneumatic, the unit having portions in the said non-.i'novable member.

lonnectcd to the interior of the reservoir and extending through the non-movable member of the reservoir, to the chamber 30, are the ducts or openings 31. These ducts 31 are our in ninnber and are arranged at the outer periphery of the chamber 30. In the center of the chamber at its lower side (as shown in Fig. is a diaphragm cut off or pouch member 32. This pouch member 32, which also acts as a cut oil valve covers a chamber 33 therebelow, the latter being connected by a duct 31, to a port 35 in a block 36 adjacent the tracker box. Alternately covering and uncovering the port is an oscillating valve 37 which is operated by the rewind operating rod 33. This rod 38 is operated by the hand lever 39 to rewind or play position or it may be operated under control of the record by the re play pneumatic 40 and the rewind pneumatic ell. The rod 33 is priwided with e3:- tensions l2. 4-3 which engage. respectively, the replay and rewind pneuniatics all) and d1.

An extension A connects the rod 38 with the oscillating valve 37 to operate the same in an obvious manner.

Atl5 and l6, 1 have shown the music and take-up rolls, respectively.

I have illustrated a c nventional drive gear for the rolls consi of gear l? on the shaft with the t up roll, a pinion 48 on the shaft which es music roll 45. lileshing with the u do is the gear is with which meshes the shittable pinion 50 mounted on the motor sha t 51. The shiftable pinion may mesh eithe with the gear l9, as already stated, or it may be shifted so as to in with the year 4-7. Attached to the gear 50 is a collar 52 which is slid-able with the pinion 50 ttlOD? the shaft 51. A lever 53 pivoted intermediate its ends, engages the collar 52 at one end and the e2:- tension on the rod at its other end. It clear, from the above, that the longitudinal movement the rod will shit the gearing so that the music record will be wound on either the music roll e5 or the take up roll 46, as the snai't 51 rotates, depending upon the position of the pinion 50.

Above the diaphr em or pouch member 32 is valve operatin member which mounted on the end oi a valve stem 61. On the upper end or the stem is a flushing or vent valve 62 which contacts with a valve seat mounted valve 03. The valve stem in a guide 6i which is shown as attached to the valve seat and a guide spacer. from the guide 6d.

The valve seat 3 i.

i e thcr end otthis chamber 66 is a collar set into the body of the unit block 29 adjacent the pouch member 32 and in position to be cr ged thereby when the pouch member is inn ted.

Extending from the cnaniber 66, opposite sides thereof. are due :5 67 and the former leading to the bass side of tire instrument and the latter to the treble side. The ducts 67 and GS connectthe chambers 69 and 70, respectively.

Large ducts 71 and connect to the bass and treble wind chests, respectively, and have openings '73, 7%, respectively, into the chambers 69 and '70. About these openings '73,

7+1 are flanged collars having, respectively, lower edges '"3, T8 in position to be engaged by diaphragms 7'7, 78. The diaphragins 7'7, 78 are in position to cover chambers 79, 80 which have communicating ducts S1, 82 coming together into a con'nnon duct at 8 and terminating in a port 8% which is located in a small valve bloclt 35; the latter being preterably located in the tracker lJOI-Z r at some other accessible place. it another part oi the bloclt a port 86 connected to tI CD'IOT-S phere by the tube 86. The ports 8iand 86 are in the same plane. ()n a center equidistant from the ports 8i and 8-3 is pivoted a valve 87 having on its under side adj acent the surface, in which are the ports 3aand 86, a depression 83 which when the valve 87 is turned at the proper angle. will cause the ports 8% and to be eon'lniunicating. The valve 8? mani ulated by a suitable handle 88 to open the port 8% to atmosphere or to close it for a purpose to be described. A bleed 8S) provided making a connection through a small hole from the chamber T9 to the interior oi the reservoir. Similarly a bleed 90 connects t 1e chamber 30 vith the interior oil the reservoir.

The duct 71 is connected to the duct 67 and the duct 72 to the duct 68 in another way. [is both connections are similar, only one will be describ d.

it the upper side inner end of the duct '72 (as shown in i 2) an opening 91 which connects with the interior of a soft regulator pneumatic having a movable mem ber Extending in a similar direction from the duct (33 is a duct 93 which also leads into the interior of the same pneumatic. On the inner wall of the movable member 92 oi the pneumatic is a *alve 9% which may be oi felt or similar material. A spring 95 is provided between the movable and noninovable members oi the regulator pneumatic and normally tends to hold the regulator pneumatic in expanded position.

it sott regulator pneumatic 96 is provided for the bass le oi? the instrument and ha. a

similar constiuction to the soft regulator pneumatic tor the treble side which has just been described. A spring- 96 normally tends to hold the pneumatic expanded. A duct 9?. similar to the duct 93, connects the duct (3? vith the interior of the pneumatic 9(3. Siniilarly a duct 98 is provide 'l to connect the duct 71 with the interior of the pneumatic 96. The pouch valves ii", 73 act as bypass valves for the regulator pneumatics O6, 92.

The ducts 'i1 and T2 are connected, respectively, with the main regulator mechanism for the bass and treble. This mechanism comprises the chest 100 having a chamher 101 connected to the interior oi the main bass regulator pneumatic 102 which is normally held expanded by a suitable spring 102. Connected also to the interior of the of the T1 regulator pneumatic 102 is the chamber 103 by the port 104. The port 104 is controlled by the valve 105 which is controlled in its movement by the movement of the regulator pneumatic 102 in one direction and by the spring 105 in its return movement.

The movable member of the regulator pneumatic 102 and the valve 105 are con nected together by a cable 106 which passes over a pulley 107. This pulley 107 is carried by the movable member of the expression pneumatic 108. This expression pneumatic is provided with a mezzo forte pneumatic 109 which is controlled by the exhausting or flushing ot' the tube 110. The position of the expression pneumatic is controlled by the exhausting or flushing of the same through. the ducts 111, 112, 113. The ducts 110, 111, 112, 113 are controlled in a manner well known in the art as set forth in the patent to Velte and Bockisch, 1,008,291.

The chamber 103 is connected to the duct 71 already described. The chamber 101 is connected to a duct 114 which is attached at its other end to the bass chamber 115 of the action chest. Suitable and well known valve mechanism such as the primary control valve 116, under control of the pouch 117 from the tracker 118, controls the movement of the striker pneumatic 120 to operate the wippen 121, and the hammer 122 which strikes the string 123 of the instrument.

The parts 200, 201, 202, 202 203, 204, 205,

214, 215, 216, 217, 220, 221, 222, 22s correspond to parts 100 to 123, except that the former are in the treble and the latter in the bass. The duct 72, already described, connects the chamber 203.

The springs 102, 202 of the main regulator pneumatics are stronger than the springs 96 and 95 of the soft pneumatics which gives the regulators different characteristics as will be later described.

I will now describe the operation of the several parts as they cooperate in the operation of the instrument.

The normal position of the valve handle 88 is such that the port 84 is closed to atmosphere. This permits the bleeds 89 and 90 to provide exhaust tension below the pouches 77 and 78, respectively. The pouches consequently are in deflated condi tion.

In the normal course of playing, air enters the wind chest 115 past the valve 116 as the latter is operated and then passes through the duct 114, the chamber 101 into the regulator pneumatic 102, out past the valve 105, into the chamber 103, through the duct 71, the port 73 into the chamber 69, through the duct 67, into the chamber 66, through the collar 66*, to the chamber 30, thence through the four ducts 31, into the main reservoir and out the duct 22 to the main exhaust pump.

lVhen, however, the end of the music se sheet reverses and uncovers the tracker perforations, notes will not be sounded. In the past, it has been necessary to provide an extended length to the sheet between the end of the music and the rewind opening. This was for the purpose of permitting the tension to die out after the action cut-off valve had been operated. In the present construction, when the rewind rod 38 is moved to rewind position the pivoted valve 37 uncovers the port 35, flushing the cham ber 33, causing the pouch 32 to be raised to engage the collar 66. Since the area of the pouch, being pressed upwardly by the atmosphere through the duct 34, is greater than the area 01": the opening of the collar 66-", the pouch 32 will be held against the edge of the collar 66 with the result that the tension to the wind chest is cut-oft.

Simultaneously with this action, however, is the opening of the chamber 66 to atmosphere, thereby reducing the tension in the action chest by permitting the air, at atmosphericpressure, to enter the bass action chest through the duct 67 and the treble action chest through the duct 68. It is understood that the course of the air for the treble side of the instrument is similar to the course of the air on the bass side which has been previously described.

As the pouch 32 is inflated, the valve operating member 60, lifts the valve stem 61 which slides in the guides 6 1 and 65 and lifts the valve 62 oil of its seat 63. The result is that whatever exhaust tension, is in the wind chests, is destroyed by the entry of air at atmospheric pressure.

As soon as the rod 38 is moved to play position, the duct 35 is closed, shutting ofi" the supply of air to the chamber 33 below the pouch 32. A bleed 33*, which is con nected to the interior of the reservoir, serves to permit the air in the chamber 33 to escape and cause the pouch 32 to fall in a well known manner. As the pouch 32 falls the valve 62 falls and the atmospheric connection to the ducts 67 and 68, through the chamber 66, is cut off, at the same time as communication is established with the exhaust in the chamber 30 due to the fall of the pouch away from the collar 66.

By the construction and operation just described, the rewind perforation may follow directly after the last note perforation in the sheet, thus saving considerable time in getting the roll back to its rolled condi- Lil - S6, depression 88, port tion, ready to replay or be replaced by another roll.

ll hen during the pumping operation the air taken from the system is greater than the amount pern'iitted to enter by way of the valves connected with the operation of the striker, control, expression and wind motor pneumatics; then the main reservoir will collapse until the pad 10 ot the adjustable rod of the relief valve 12, contacts with the non-movable member of the reservoir. Any further tendency to collapse is prevented by the slight opening of the reservoir. With this opening, the air is permitted to enter the reservoir and due to the porous sound deadening strip 20, the entry of the air is without sound. its the air being supplied, from the operating mechanic becomes equal to the air being exhausted, the valve 12 closes.

Whenever it is desired LO play u ing the expression mechanism i to soften those notes which are to be played ab ve pianissimo while maintainin j a lout an'l so'tt relation between the notes, the so-ealled softll elte valve 87 is operated by the handle 88 to admit atmosphere U3 Set, ducts S1 and 82 the chambers T9 and 80 b ow the resoective pouches i? and 78. I admitted in this manner is more than the bleeds S and 90 can exhaust, the pouches 7? and T8 are to 'ced upwardly against the es T and T0 of the openi he area of the pouches is p A r L the zreas ot the openings 73 and .4, the atmospheric pressure torces the pouches against the edges the openings and cuts oil the admission of air at these points. Referring to the treble side or the instrument, it will be seen that the air, although at oil at H, may pass out through the duct 9i into the sott regulator, past the valve 9% through the duct 93 and into the duct 08 l thence, already described, to the resrvoir. The same action takes place on the mass side when the pouch T'T causes the air to take a course by way of the opening 98 into the regulator 96 and out to the duct 0? way of the duct 9?.

to, re the springs or" the soft regulitors a ot strength 11 1 th rings ot the man reg ilators, the o trol the pressure us tions, the regulat tain their wide open 1 which the 5 nine; 90 not se cie it to co, i, and 202. The exprrss their control devices l and will modit'y the stren modifying the tension maintained in chambers 101 and 201 by movement of valves 105 and 205 under control ot' the leys 107 and 207.

The action of the soft regulators is to reduce the pressure to the desired point which might be pianissimo. Then when the valves and 205 are opened by the collapse of the pneumaties 108 and 208, the pressure is increased but cannot go beyond a certain amount which is limited by the strength of the springs 00 and 95. Any tendency to increase the pressures beyond this point is met by the eiiectual closing of the valve 94: and its companion within the pneumatic 90.

li lien it is desired to increase the tones to normal, it is only necessary to operate the ll'elte handle 88 to the loud positiou. This action cuts oil the atmospheric pressure to the chan'ibcrs and S0 and perinits the bleeds and 00 to exhaust the air thcretrom. This action permits the pouches T7 and T8 to tall. The air passages from the duct T1 to the du l5? and also from the duct "1, to the duct 08, are opened directly without going through the soft regulators. inc result is that the pressure in the main rvoir is transmitted to the chamber 103 203, oi? the main regulator pneumatics. causes the increase of the tension in the t ineumatics 102, 202 with the relace J. a normal playing is restored. do I have shown and described in deembodiment of my invention, I de save it understood that the showing illustrative and that modifications u may be made without departing he spirit of my invention and within ye of the appended claims.

once is hereby made to my co-pending application tiled November 5, 1920, Se-

" rei rial Number l2l,821 which describes and genera-ally clan'ns matter shown and descri bed herein.

ilaving described my invention, what I claim is V. in a record controlled musical instrument, a plurality ot wind chests and a source 0t power, ducts leading from the source of power to the respective wind chests, a pluit' of regulators of different characterisconnected to and arranged to control ias age of air in the ducts to each of the ctive chests, a pneumatically controlled s for controlling a by-pass around one regulators and cut-oil valve means for topping the passage of air in one of the 3. In a record controlled musical instrument, a plurality of wind chests and a source of power, a main duct connection to the source of power, branch ducts leading from the main duct to a plurality of respective wind chests, a plurality of regulators of ditferent characteristics connected to and arranged to control the passage of air in each of the branch ducts, a pneumatically controlled means for controlling a by-pass around one of the regulators and cut oil valve means for stopping the passage of air between the source of power and the branch ducts.

4. In a record controlled musical instrument, a wind chest and a source of power, a regulator pneumatic, another regulator pneumatic of different characteristics, valves controlled by the respective regulator pneumatics, ducts connecting the source of power with the wind chest and controlled by the regulator valves, a by-pass to prevent the operation of. one of the regulator valves and comprising a cut-off means, a pneumatic expansible chamber adjacent the cutoff means and controlling the position of the cutoff means.

5. In a record controlled musical instru ment, a wind chest and a source of power, a regulator pneuiinatic, another regulator pneumatic of different characteristics, valves controlled by the respective regulator pneumatics, ducts connecting the source of power with the wind chest and controlled by the regulator valves, a by-pass to prevent the operation of one of the regulator valves and comprising a pouch pneumatic, the movable member of which "forms a cut-off valve, a hand operated valve and a direct duct connection between the hand operated valve and the pneumatic.

6. In a record controlled musical instrument, a plurality of wind chests and a source of power, a duct connection leading from the source of power and having branches to each wind chest, a plurality of regulators of dift'erent characteristics connected to and arranged to control the duct connection to each wind chest, a pouch valve-pneun'iatic controlling a by-pass around one ot the regulators of one of the ducts and means for controlling the operation of the pouch.

7. In a record controlled musical instrument, a plurality of wind chests and a source of power, a duct connection leading from the source of power and having branches to each wind chest, a plurality of regulators of different characteristics connected to and arranged to control the duct connection to each Wind chest, a pouch valve-pneumatic, controlling a by-pass around one of the regulators of each of the ducts and humanly controlled means for controlling the operation of the pouch.

8. A record controlled musical instrument comprising a wind chest, a main reservoir, connections between the wind chest and reservoir for supplying tension from the latter to the former and means for simultaneously interrupting the said connections and flushing the wind chest.

9. A record controlled musical instrument comprising a wind chest, a main reservoir, connections between the Wind chest and reservoir for supplying tension from the latter to the former and record controlled means for simultaneously interrupting the said connections and flushing the wind chest.

10. A record controlled musical instrument comprising a wind chest, a main reservoir, connections between the wind chest and reservoir for supplying tension from the latter to the former and means, comprising a single power member, for simultaneously interrupting the said connections and flushin g the Wind chest.

11. A record controlled musical instrument comprising a wind chest, a main reservoir, connections between the wind chest and reservoir for supplying tension from the latter to the former and means for controlling I the tension in the connections, said means comprising a cut-cit valve, a flushing valve and a connection between the two to operate one from the other.

12. A record controlled musical instrument comprising a wind chest, a main reservoir, connections between the wind chest and reservoir for supplying tension from the latter to the former and means for controlling the tension in the connections, said means comprising a pneumatic power means, the upper surface of which forms a valve, a separate flushing valve and an operating member between the two to operate the latter from the former.

13. A record controlled musical instrument comprising a plurality of wind chests, areservoir, connections between the wind chests and the reservoir to supply tension from the latter to the former, said connections comprising a chamber having a duct leading to the reservoir and separate ducts leading to the wind chests, a valve for in tcrrupting the passage of air between the reservoir and the chamber and an atmospheric valve for admitting air to the ducts leading to the wind chests.

14. A record controlled musical instrument comprising a plurality of wind chests, a reservoir, connections bet-ween the wind chests and the reservoir to supply tension from the latter to the former, said connections comprising a chamber having a duct leading to the reservoir and separate ducts leading to the wind chests, a valve for interrupting the passage of air between the reservoir and the chamber, an atmospheric valve for admitting air to the ducts leading to the Wind chests and record controlled 6 neiaeei pneumatic means for controlling the operation of the interrupting and atmospheric valves.

15. A record controlled musical instrument comprising a plurality oi wind chests, a reservoir, connections between the wind chests and the reservoir to supply tension from the latter to the former, said connec tions comprising a chamber having a duct leading to the reservoir and separate ducts leading to the Wind ehestr a valve {or interrupting the passage of air between the reservoir and the chamber, an atmospheric valve for admit-ting air to the ducts leading to the Wind chests and a record controlled pneumatic means including a single duct for simultaneously controlling tne operation of the interrupting and atmospheric valves.

16. A record controlled musical instrumentcomprising a plurality of wind chests, a reservoir, connections between the vvind chests and the reservoir to supply tension from the latter to the former, said connections comprising a chamber hav' g two valve seats and having communica tion to the reservoir past the one 'alve and the atmosphere past the other valve seat, a pneumatic having a flexible portion in position to engage the valve seat on the side connnunieating With the reservoir and forming a valve to stop communication, an atmospheric valve in position to engage the atmospheric valve seat and having an extension to the flexible portion or the pneumatic to cause the opening of the atmospheric valve when the pneumatic is operated.

17. A record controlled musical instrument comprising a plurality of Wind chests, a reservoir, connections between the Wind chests and the reservoir to supply tension "from the latter to the former, said connections comprising a chamber having two valve seats and having communication to the reservoir past one valve seat and the atmosphere past the other valve seat, a pneumatic having a flexible portion in position to engage the valve seat on the side communicating with the reservoir and forming a valve to stop communication, an atmospheric valve in position to engage the atmospheric valve seat and having an extension to the flexible portion of the pneumatic to cause the opening of the atmospheric valve when the pneumatic operated and means under the control of the record for causing the operation oi' the pneumatic.

18. In a record controlled musical instrument, a main reservoir comprising a nonniovable member and a movable member, a vent valve, a soft contacting member on the valve, a porous sound deadening sheet adjacent the edge of the valve and means tor opening the valve when the movable member appreaches the non-movable member to a predetermined point.

In testimony whereof I aliix my signature.

TOLBERT F. CHEEK. 

